News Nuggets 808

Glencoe in Scotland.  From the Daily Mail of the UK.

UP-FRONT ON-THE-MONEY PUNDIT-OF-THE-DAY!!
The Palinization of the GOP (Kathleen Parker) from the Washington Post
"The headline on Democratic strategist Paul Begala’s recent Newsweek essay dodged subtlety: “The Stupid Party.” “Republicans used to admire intelligence. But now they’re dumbing themselves down,” was the subhead. Democrats couldn’t agree more. And quietly, many Republicans share the sentiment. They just can’t seem to stop themselves."

ALMOST-UP-FRONT PUNIDT-OF-THE-DAY!!
Next Up: `Occupy Congress’ (Greg Sargent) from the Washington Post
"One of the enduring questions about Occupy Wall Street has been this: Can the energy unleashed by the movement be leveraged behind a concrete political agenda and push for change that will constitute a meaningful challenge to the inequality and excessive Wall Street influence highlighted by the protests? A coalition of labor and progressive groups is about to unveil its answer to that question. Get ready for “Occupy Congress.”"
THERE IS A GOD!  This is EXACTLY what they need to do!  They are looking at Dec. 5-9.  Too soon in my view.  I think they underestimate how much planning and careful thought about strategy and tactics they'll need.  But they are DEFINITELY thinking from the right place!

Qaddafi’s Son Seif al-Islam, Said to Be Captured in Libya from the New York Times
NPR seemed to confirm this story this morning.
"In a scene of celebration outstripped only by news of Colonel Qaddafi’s capture and death last month, Tripoli’s streets erupted into revelry. Vehicles clogged intersections, horns blaring, and militiamen shot their rifles into the sky."

Brain Drain: Russian Scientists Packing Up Their Beakers and Heading West from Kommersant [of Russia in English]
"Not for the first time, Russian scientists are taking their considerable knowledge and moving abroad. Some of the brainy emigrants cite funding problems and Russian red tape as reasons to move. For others, heading West is simply a lifestyle choice."

Older, Suburban and Struggling, ‘Near Poor’ Startle the Census from the New York Times
"They drive cars, but seldom new ones. They earn paychecks, but not big ones. Many own homes. Most pay taxes. Half are married, and nearly half live in the suburbs. None are poor, but many describe themselves as barely scraping by."

The Fracturing of Pennsylvania (Eliza Griswold) from the New York Times Sunday Magazine
"There are more than 4,000 Marcellus wells in Pennsylvania, with projections ranging from 2,500 new wells a year to a total of more than 100,000 over the next few decades; 458 of those wells are in Washington County and 60 are in Amwell Township, to which fracking has given an injection of new income and business; it has also spurred one of the first E.P.A. investigations into fracking’s effects on rivers, streams, drinking water and human health."

The Brutal Politics Of Super Committee Failure from Talking Points Memo
"Failure is very much an option. And if failure happens, Capitol Hill politics will take a severe turn heading into the 2012 election."

Five Myths About Student Loans from the Washington Post
"President Obama responded, in part, last month with an improved income-based repayment plan, but most of the protesters and petitioners will not qualify for it. The increased attention on education debt has also brought attention to many misconceptions about how people borrow to pay for school."

Obama Outpaces GOP Rivals — and his Own 2008 Results — in Small Donations from the Washington Post
"Even with low approval ratings and an uncertain path to reelection, President Obama is exceeding expectations in one area: His campaign is doing far better at attracting grass-roots financial support this year than his GOP rivals or his own historic effort in 2008, according to new contribution data."

Take Heart, Liberals. Dems Hung Tough this Time (Jonathan Bernstein) from the Washington Post
"Progressives often think that Dems always cower in fear or cave to Republicans in the face of GOP attacks painting them as Big Spending Liberals, but here’s a case where Dems stood their ground and did the right thing."

What Iowa Voters Want in a Republican Nominee from the Wall Street Journal
"Caucus goers are looking for a candidate who is committed to repealing ObamaCare, reforming entitlements and devolving Washington's power."

Why Gingrich is Back (Clarence Page) from the Chicago Tribune
"Gingrich's resurrection came after the recent GOP presidential debates in which he showed the ferocity of a Rottweiler, not against his fellow Republicans but against an all-purpose whipping boy, the "mainstream media." The ABMs hope Gingrich is a guy who will spank Obama in debates."

Santorum: Americans Should Suffer from Think Progress
"If “you’re lower income, you can qualify for Medicaid, you can qualify for food stamps, you can qualify for housing assistance,” Santorum complained, before adding, “suffering is part of life and it’s not a bad thing, it is an essential thing in life.”"
And Santorum is considered on of the more sane candidates in the GOP field!!

MEDIEVAL CHESS NUGGET!!
Medieval Foes With Whimsy from the New York Times
""The Game of Kings: Medieval Ivory Chessmen From the Isle of Lewis,” a famous cache of pieces, is on view at the Cloisters."

WASHINGTON DC HISTORY NUGGET!!
Critic’s Review of ‘Unbuilt Washington’ at the National Building Museum from the Washington Post
"“Unbuilt Washington” is the National Building Museum’s best chance at drawing blockbuster crowds in years. Devoted to the might-have-beens in the wastebasket of Washington’s design history, it begins with variations on the basic city plan laid out by Pierre L’Enfant in 1791 and ends with a spectacular sculptural bridge the museum would like to construct in the enormous atrium of the Pension Building."

FIRST LADY HISTORY NUGGET!!
From Michelle Obama's Jason Wu to Jackie Kennedy's Couture, Smithsonian's Tribute to Presidents' Wives Inaugural Gowns (PHOTOS) from the Daily Mail [of the UK]
The pictures are quite interesting here!
"A new exhibition at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, which opens tomorrow, will see the display of the most famous dresses worn by U.S. Presidents' wives - and a whole section has been dedicated to their first outfits in the role of first lady."